Sheikh Hasina requested permission to visit India “at very short notice” following her forced resignation as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday.
Mr Jaishankar briefed Parliament on the “still evolving” Bangladesh situation, India’s response, and the status of an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals in that country. He said the government is in “close and continuous contact” with the Indian community and urged the host nation to provide the necessary security measures.
Mr Jaishankar, who informed leaders at an all-party meeting this morning, said the government will allow Mrs Hasina time to consider her next step and asked for the House’s “understanding and support”.
“On August 4 (protests in Bangladesh) took a very serious turn. Attacks on police, including police stations and government installations, intensified even as overall levels of violence escalated and properties of individuals associated with the regime were torched. What was worrying was that minorities and their businesses and temples also came under attack at multiple locations.”
“On August 5 demonstrators converged in Dhaka despite a curfew. Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of the security establishment Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the decision to resign. At very short notice she requested approval to come, for the moment, to India. We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance… she arrived yesterday evening in Delhi.”
He also referred to an address by Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman – made Monday evening, shortly after Mrs Hasina stepped down – in which he said, “I have met opposition leaders… we have decided to form an interim government…” and appealed for the violent protests to end.
Over 400 people have reportedly died in violent protests in Bangladesh beginning last month.
“The situation in Bangladesh is still evolving. We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through our diplomatic missions. There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals of which about 9,000 are students. The bulk of students returned in July…” he said.
“In the last 24 hours we have also been in regular touch with authorities in Dhaka. I seek the understanding and support of the House in regard to sensitive issues regarding an important neighbour on which there has always been strong national consensus,” he said.
Mr Jaishankar also spoke about India’s diplomatic missions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet, and said, “It is our expectation the host government will provide required security…”
On the question of minorities (over 90 per cent of Bangladeshis are Muslims), he said, “We are monitoring the situation with regard to minorities. There are reports of initiatives to ensure their protection. We welcome that… but will remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored.”
The events in Bangladesh present a problem for India, particularly if the UK turns down Sheikh Hasina’s asylum request. India also does not want to be seen as overtly backing the ousted leader because that may complicate the country’s relationship with the new government in Bangladesh, whatever it may be.
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